Adjustable vehicle-shaft



(NdModeL) W. B. PARRAR.

ADJUSTABLE VEHICLE SHAFT. No. 395,820. Patented Jan. 8, 18 89.

WITNESSES INVENTOR 2 y: F all; g I u H BY 6 e Cg ATTORNEYS.

N. PETERS, Phatn-Lithagnphce, Washingion. 1) c4 lhviren @rarns arsrrricn.

IVILLIAM l3. FARRAR, OF GREENSBOROUGH, NORTH CAROLINA.

ADJUSTABLE VEHICLE SHAFT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 395,820, dated January8, 1889.

Application filed September 21, 1888. Serial No. 285,960. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, \YILLIAM B. liARRAR, of Greensborough, in the countyof Guilford and State of North Carolina, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Adjustable Vehicle-Shafts, of which the following is aspecification.

The object of my invention is to provide a pair of shafts for vehicleswhich are capable of lateral zuljustment to increase or diminish thespace between the shafts to adapt them to larger or smaller horses; andit consists in a shaft ln'iving a pmauliar joint in its length thatpermits its position to be changed laterally and the shaft tightened upin a new position, as will be hereinafter fully described.

Figure 1 a top plan View of one of the shafts. Fig. 2 is a bottom planview. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the joint. Fig. i adetail showing a modification. Fig. 5 is a detail plan view showing theleather casing applied to the joint.

A A represent 'the two sections of a single shaft, which in accordancewith my invention are formed with a joint at a. The end of oneshaft-section, A, is square and the end of the other section, A, issplaved where it abuts against A, and directly at the joint is a bolt,l), which forms a vertical axis or pintle for the joint to preventslipping or displacement in changing. On the under side of one of theshaft-sections A, as shown, is rigidly secured by bolts or rivets ametal plate, 13, which ex: tends past and forms a splice for the joint.This plate diverges or widens toward the rear from the joint andterminates in a curved end whose curve is struck by a radius from thecenter of the pintle-bolt. In this wide end of the plate there are two(more or less) transverse slots, (1 (I, through which there passes twoclamp bolts, o c, that extend entirely through the rear section, A, ofthe shaft. The rear curved end of the plate B is notched to form teethc, which. mesh with corresponding teeth, 0, on a plate, (l, firmlybolted to the under side of the shaftsection A. The joint between thetwo sets of teeth is also an inclined one z'. 6., the teeth of the plateB slightly overlap those of plate 0, so that when B is tightened up thejoint is also tightened.

13 and hold it against moving laterally after being adjusted.

\Vhen the angle of the shaft is to be changed, the bolts 6 e areloosened, and theshaft with plate B is moved laterally about bolt 1) asa center, the transverse slots (1 (l in the plate B permitting this.Then when the proper position has been attained the bolts c c are againtightened, and the teeth on the rear end of plate B are tigl'itened in anew position against the teeth of plate The plate 13 thus forms asplicesection for the joint between the two shaft-sections A and A,which plate is firmly held to its adjustment by the clamp-bolts andtoothed plate 0, to rigidly maintain the shaft in its adjustment to oneside or the other.

Both the shafts are designed to be similarly constructed, and by thismeans the width between the shafts may be adapted to any size of animal,wit h no risk of looseness or loss of strength.

As a modification of my invention, I may in the place of the plate C usea revolving screw, as shown in Fig. 1-, whose threads engage with theteeth on the rear of plate B, and which screw turns in bearings fixed toshaftsection A, and has a squared end to receive a wrench whereby apositive means of adjusting the plate B is provided. I may also, as afurther modification, reverse the position of the plate B, so that itswide end shall. be to the front. To keep water and mud from getting intothe joint of the shafts, I propose to cover the joint with a leathercasing, s, tacked to the sides of the shaft-sections and resting beneaththe head of the bolt K), (see Fig. 5,) a suitable washer being placedunder the bolt-head to prevent cutting the leather.

I am aware that it is notncw to make a shaft in two sections with atransverse joint and a hinge and means for locking the hinge rigid. I amalso aware that a vehicleshaft has been made laterally adjustable by acurved bar at the point where it connects with the cross-bar thatcarries the singletree, and I do .not claim such constructions.

Having thus described my invention, whatI claim as new is 1. Avehicle-shaft having a pivotal joint arranged to Work about a verticalaxis, in combination with a horizontal splice-plate bolted rigidly toone section of the shaft, and having at its other ends transverse slotsand bolts for connecting it to the other section of shaft for lateraladjustment, as described.

2. A vehicle-shaft having a pivotal. joint arranged to work about avertical. axis, in combination with a horizontal splice-plate boltedrigidly to one section of the shaft, and having at its other endtransverse slots and bolts for clamping it to the other section of theshaft, and a positive locking device fixed upon the latter shaft-sectionand adapted to engage with the slotted end of the spliceplate, asdescribed.

3. A vehicle-shaft having a pivotal joint arranged to work about avertical axis, in combination with a horizontal splice-plate rigidlybolted tov one section of the shaft and having transverse slots andbolts for clamping it to the other shaft-section, and a serrated ortoothed end and a serrated plate fixed to the other shaft-section,having its teeth engaged with the serrated end of the splice-plate,substantially as shown and described.

A vehicle-shaft made in two sections, with square and splayed abuttingends, and a pivotal bolt, 1), in the joint, in combination with asplice-plate, B, and locking devices for the same, substantially asshown and described.

5. A vehicle-shaft having a transverse joint with a splice-plate,combined with a pintlebolt passing through said joint, and a leathercasing placed under the head of the pintlebolt and tacked to sides ofshaft to prevent water and mud from getting in the joint and to make aneat appearance, as shown and described.

WILLIAM B. FARRAR.

\Vitnesses:

SAML. L. TRoGDoN, M. R. TROGDON.

